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State Bike-Ped Safety Assessment

Several BWANH board members are working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to help them conduct the national Bike-Ped Safety Program Assessment that NHTSA is performing in each state. The assessment focuses on a set of about 100 questions and covers topics such as program management, education, enforcement, engineering, emergency medical services, and equity.

The intent of the assessment is to make state-specific recommendations on areas potentially needing improvement, and recognize those that the state does well. The hope is that funding will be funneled to those states where improvements are needed.

BWANH board members have been helping gather data and provide answers and guidance as NHTSA goes through the assessment process, which has been done through a series of weekly meetings over the past several months and is expected to continue through the project’s completion. Data collection will continue through late January or early February 2024 and then the national assessors, which include consultants, NHTSA and NHDOT members, will do their initial review. Then, for three days starting on March 18, the assessors will meet with the state NHTSA team to discuss their documentation and responses provided.

Any additional information will be supplied by the state team through April with a final briefing and recommendations expected in the beginning of May.

While BWA is helping to gather information on all the good things happening from a bike-ped perspective around the state, the goal is also to highlight areas that can use improvement, and as noted above, hopefully help obtain federal funding to help close gaps. Some of those areas include: ensuring the state’s recently released Pedestrian Bike Plan is incorporated into NHDOT’s 10-year plan so it gets implemented; ensuring the Driver’s Ed manual is updated to sufficiently reflect and educate drivers on the rules of the road as they relate to bicycles and pedestrians; ensuring dangerous sections of roads specific to bicycles, pedestrians and handicapped users are addressed, not just those that are dangerous to vehicles; and ensuring bicycle and pedestrian related signage allowed in the state complies with national standards and is not restricted by state guidance.

So why is this so important? According to AAA (much of the following is adopted from AAA), pedestrian deaths nationwide are up 77% from 2010 – 2021! In the northeast, it’s a mixed bag with Vermont and New Jersey leading with a 12.5% decline in pedestrian deaths while New Hampshire is bringing up the rear with an increase of 78%! Massachusetts was the next closest to New Hampshire with an increase of 31%. These are not good statistics, and not good at all for New Hampshire.

Bicycle incidents on the road were not included in the AAA statistics, but those numbers are also alarmingly high. Reasons seem obvious: distracted driving, roads built for vehicles – not bicycles and pedestrians, and the significant increase of SUVs which are bigger, heavier, higher (particularly the front grill which is where people get hit) and have less visibility close to the vehicle.

So, what can we do about it? BWANH will keep working with NHTSA to do a fair assessment of bike-ped safety with a goal of bringing more attention and funding to address areas that need improvement. We can also continue lobbying our local politicians to ensure they understand the importance and necessity of safe roads for all.

And, as pedestrians, cyclists and motorists we can:

• Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
• Pedestrians, walk on sidewalks whenever available. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
• Bicyclists, ride with traffic, on the right side of the road.
• Keep alert at all times; don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road; don’t ride with headphones.
• Whenever possible, cross streets at crosswalks or intersections, where drivers expect pedestrians. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right.
• Bicyclists, follow the rules of the road when riding, turning, and at intersections.
• Never assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact with drivers as they approach to make sure you are seen.
• Be visible at all times. Wear bright clothing during the day and wear reflective materials and use lights at night.
• Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs when using the roads; they impair your abilities and your judgment.

As motorists we can:

• Be alert for pedestrians and bicyclists everywhere and at all times. Safety is a shared responsibility.
• Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime, bad weather, hilly and curvy roads.
• Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or approaching a crosswalk or intersection.
• Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing that you can’t see.
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• Follow the speed limit, especially around people and bicyclists.
• Follow slower speed limits in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present.
• Be extra cautious when backing up – pedestrians and bicycles can move into your path quickly.
• Give bicycles at least 3 feet when passing (the law is to give an additional foot for each 10 MPH over 30 MPH) and especially when passing on curvy or hilly roads.

For more information on safe biking, safe walking, and safe driving around bicyclists, check out:

• BWANH’s education resources
• Bike Friendly Driving and NH Law
• The RESOURCES tab on our website